Benang Kelambu Waterfall

How do you tear yourself away from Lombok’s wonderful beach life? The only thing to rival the island’s powdery white sands and blue waters is the uncrowded lush green interior. This is the ideal time for chasing waterfalls in Lombok. The hinterland is a verdant emerald green after the downpours of the rainy season

While many head for cascading waters of Sedang Gile, savvy travellers escape the crowds at little known Batukliang District in Central Lombok. Here lies Benang Kelambu, arguably Lombok’s most photogenic waterfall. Water cascades through a deep green curtain of tropical foliage that covers the cliff face, crashing down into a manmade rock pool.

Water cascades through the wall of dense vegetation at three different levels starting from a height of about 40 metres. You can paddle, swim or simply sit on the rocks and watch the action. It is an incessant show of water plunging down into the pool yet has an eery quietness about it you rarely get from waterfalls of this size. This is just one of its many unique features.

The water is crystal clear and flows south directly from Mount Rinjani’s volcanic lake. The water is known to be a cure-all for many ailments.

It is not the only waterfall here. Benang Setokel is the first pitstop en route to Benang Kelambu. This hidden waterfall flows into a pool of icy water from a height of about 20 metres. The pool below is clear but is too shallow for bathing. Still, it’s a photogenic sight that feels like a truly hidden natural treasure. It’s an ideal respite on a hot tropical day surrounded by a canopy of tropical rainforest.

Benang Setokel is only a short, easy hike from the starting point where guided trips are arranged. A guide will take you to both waterfalls along an easy path through banana trees, with birds singing and monkeys scampering into view. It’s a relatively casual 30-minute hike between the two waterfalls.

If you do take up the offer of a local guide, make full use of their expert knowledge. There are a couple of other virtually unknown waterfalls in the area – Kilwun and Sesere, known as the “secret waterfalls.” They are both small but incredibly picturesque and free from crowds even on busy holiday weekends.

The drive to get to Benang Kelambu from Senggigi or Mataram is itself a picturesque journey of about one hour through tiny villages tucked away between rice fields. For the best experience try to avoid weekends which are significantly busier both on the local roads and on the jungle trails to the waterfalls.